Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi has once again secured his position as the highest-paid player in Major League Soccer (MLS) for the third consecutive year, despite a notable pay increase this season.
Messi’s Record Compensation
Data released by the MLS Players Association indicates that Messi’s total guaranteed compensation for the current season is $28.33 million, a substantial rise from last year’s figure of $20.45 million. This amount reflects solely the on-field portion of Messi’s earnings. In October, he signed a contract extension that will keep him with Inter Miami until the end of the 2028 season.
Messi’s Earnings and Future Prospects
Inter Miami owner Jorge Mas revealed in a Bloomberg interview that Messi’s overall income ranges between $70 million and $80 million annually. After his playing career concludes, Messi is also expected to gain an ownership stake in the club, further enhancing his financial portfolio.
Compensation Rankings Among Players
Following Messi, LAFC forward Heung-min Son ranks second with guaranteed earnings of $11.15 million. He is closely followed by Messi’s Inter Miami teammate Rodrigo De Paul, who is set to earn $9.6 million. Notably, San Diego forward Hirving “Chuckie” Lozano holds the fourth position with $9.33 million, despite being sidelined and not appearing in any matches this season. Atlanta United’s Miguel Almiron rounds out the top five with $7.87 million.
Disparities in Team Compensation
Inter Miami continues to lead the league in total guaranteed compensation per team, tallying $54.57 million, which surpasses last year’s record by $7.7 million. This figure is more than double that of all but two other teams in the league. For context, LAFC follows with a total spending of $32.65 million, while Atlanta United, LA Galaxy, and the Vancouver Whitecaps report $27.88 million, $26.43 million, and $24.56 million, respectively.
Lowest Earners in the League
The current Supporters’ Shield holder, Philadelphia Union, ranks at the bottom of the league with $11.7 million in guaranteed compensation. They are followed closely by Sporting Kansas City ($12.36 million), CF Montreal ($13.42 million), Orlando City ($13.73 million), and Colorado Rapids ($14.13 million).
Trends in Player Compensation Growth
The average guaranteed compensation for all players in the MLS has risen to $688,816, reflecting a 6.1% increase from the spring 2025 figure of $649,199. While median salary growth has decelerated, it nonetheless increased by 3.6% from $339,876 a year ago to $352,104. Currently, 133 players are guaranteed at least $1 million in compensation, up from 131 the previous year.
Future Outlook for MLS and CBA
The MLS and the MLSPA are currently in the sixth year of their Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), established in February 2021 and set to run until the conclusion of the 2027 season. As the league transitions to a summer-spring calendar next year, there may be adjustments to these terms in anticipation of the so-called “sprint season” set to commence in early 2027.
